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(No Model) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 114 W. WURDEMANN.

ASPARAGUS BUNOHER. No. 370,842. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.4

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets- Sheet 2'. W. WURDEMANN.

ASPARAGUS BUNCHER.

No. 370,842. Patented 001;. 4,-1887..

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A-SPARAGUS BUNOHER. v No. 370,842. Patented Oct. 4, F887.

I 119 E E i 1 1 I l I I 1 Q VALWW (No Model?) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. WURDEMANN.

ASPARAGUS BUNGHER.

No. 370,842 Paterited 001;. 4, 1887 L i um lmummllllll Q q villmaoogo(gm v an [70 z NITED STATES PATENT OrFIcE.

WILLIAM \VI IRDEMANN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

.ASPARAGUS -BUNCHER.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,842,.dated October4,1887.

Application filed May 2, 1887.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, WILLIA W'L'IRDEMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Asparagus Bunchers; and I hereby deelare thefollowing to be a full, clear,- and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same,.reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specifica tion, similar characters indicating like parts inthe different figures.

Figure 1 represents an isometric perspective view of the machinecomplete. Fig. 2 is side elevation showing the peculiar construction ofthe shears which trim the bunches and other parts of the machineconnected therewith. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation showing the joint of theshears and the relative positions in relation thereto of the principalparts of the machine. Fig. 4 is atop or plan view of the entire machine,illustrating the general arrangement of the several parts with relationto each other. Fig. 5 is a detail side view illustrating the arrangementof the clampingjaws and their operating devices. Fig. 6 is a detail viewshowing the arrangement of the rocking shaft and its connections, bywhich the bunchingjaws are operated. Fig. 7 is a side view of the jaws OC and stud k, showing the hole through which bolt passes to fasten it tothe stud 1.

Thislinvention relates especially to improvements in that part ofasparagus-bunching machines by which the bunching-jaws are operated andthe butts trimmed to form an evenended and symmetrical bunch.

A represents the bed of the machine, upon which all the operating partsare supported.

BandOarethebunching-jaws,of which there are two pairs, each pairconnected at the base, placed at suitable distances from each other toproperly support the bunch of stalks and allow the passage of the stringor other fastening device to be passed between them and secured aroundsaid bunch. Thepair of jaws O O are connected at theirbase by thecrossbar 0', which has a downwardly-projecting stud, 7c. This stud k isloosely fastened to the Serial No. 23fif66. (N0 model.)

' stud 1, which projects upward from the bedplate A, by a bolt, (1,which passes through an elongated hole in said stud k. The jaws are keptfrom tipping backward by coming in contact with the shoulder 2 of stud1, Fig. 6,

and the projection 19 of the bed-plate A. This mode of fastening allowsthe jaws G O to twist sidewise to conform with the shape of the bunchshould it happen to be larger at one end than at the other. Otherwisethey remain substantially stationary. The jaws B B are fastened togetherat their bases by the crossbar B, which has at its extremities thedownwardly-projecting lugs B B, which pass be tween ears projectingupwardly from the bedplate A and oscillate on the bar 6, connecting saidears. The cross-bar B has two downwardly-projecting ears, between whichis pivoted one end of the connecting-rod D by bolt 9. The other end ofthis connecting-rod D is pivoted to the hand-lever E by means of thebolt 7. The hand-lever is pivoted to the stud 1 by the bolt 8. Thus itis seen that when the hand-lever is raised (as shown in dotted lines,Fig. 5) it causes the jaws B B to recede, there by giving room to insertthe bunch. When the hand-lever is depressed, the jaws B B are broughtforward. This motion continues until the bearings 7, 8, and 9 come intoline. The lever is still carried a little below this point, therebylocking the jaws in their closed position. To prevent the lever E frombeing carried too far in either direction a stop, a, is placed on theside of said lever, which comes in contact with shoulders on the stud 1.

To prevent the stalks from dropping between the jaws and impeding theiroperations the jaws B B are recessed in their lower part to receive thetongues 19, projecting from the jaws O O and entering said recesses,thus forming a bridge over the space between the jaws at the bottom andpreventing the dropping of stalks or other matters into said space.

In order to form bunches of certain desired lengths, a slot, 13, isformed in the bed in axial line with the jaws, through which slot passesthe screw-bolts 11, adj ustably securing at any point the shield or stopF, against which the heads of the stalks are brought to secure be actedon by the trimming devices, which will now be described. In order toalways keep the shield or stop parallel to the cross section of thebunch, a guide, 4, is formed on the bed-plate, along which the edge ofthe base of said shield moves. These trimming devices consist of amovable supporting-plate, G, made adjustable upon the bed A by means ofthe thlllllUSClQW and bolt 10, which pass through the slot 12 in thebed-plate A. One edge of the plate G moves along the guide 3. This plateis provided with an upwardly-curved extcn sion-piece, G,which supportsthe butts of the stalks while being trimmed. Two large projecting ears,I) I), extend upwardly from the plate G and serve as guides and asupport for the trimmer, which is pivoted between them by means of thebolt 5. This trimmeris formed from a bow-shaped piece of metal, H,having an extension, H, forming a handle by which it is operated. Thecutting-blade has its edge formed by grinding it upon one side to abevel, like the edge upon one-half of a pair of shears, and is attachedat each end to the bow-shaped frame H by two pins, 15 15, so that it maybe readily removed for sharpening,and acts, in conjunction with theextension G, (which may also be provided with a similar beveled plateattached to its outer side,) in the same manner as the cutting parts ofa pair of shears, so that when the blade is depressed by means of thehandle II it severs the butts of any stalks which may project outside ofthe curved support G. As the stalks are easily bent, it may becomenecessary to provide a support for their outer ends outside the supportG, which I provide by attaching to said support the curved blade 18,space being left between it and the support for the passage of theknife.

In order to protect the operator from accidental injury by his handscoming in contact with the blade while'it is turned back and he ismanipulating the machine, I attach to one of the ears I) of the plate Ga guard, 16, which extends backward, as shown in Fig. 2, ashort distanceabove the blade, and cifectually prevents accidents therefrom.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The trimmerand stop Fhavingbeen adjusted to the distance apart required for the length of thebunches, the trimmer is thrown back and the lever E raised, so as toopen the jaws. The bunch of asparagus is then inserted with the tops ofthe stalks against the stop. The lever E is then depressed, causing thejaws to close upon it. Then,by turning down the trimmer, the butts arecut, so as to give the stalks an even length. The hunch is then tied,the lever E raised, and the bunch removed, leaving the machine incondition forthe reception of the next.

I am aware that asparagus-bunchcrs provided with sliding jaws operatedby a lever to form and hold the bunches while being tied have beeninvented, and do not, therefore, broadly claim such a construction; butso far as my knowledge extends no one before my invention thereof hasconstructed an asparagus-buncher the jaws of which have not only aswinging movement but also a horizontal oscillatory motion by which theyare adapted to conform to the varying taper of the bunches.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following:

1. In an asparagus-bunehcr, the bed-plate A, provided with thejaw-supports cast integral therewith, in combination with the 'aws B andG, saidjaws having a horizontally-oscillating motion upon their supportsto fit the taper of the bunch, as well as aswinging movement to compressthe same, a connectingrod, D, attached to the jaws G ata point nearerthe cutting-knife than the stop F to bring the greatest pressure on thebutts, the lever E, and stop for limiting the movement of said lever,substantially as specified.

2. In an asparagus-buncher, the bed-plate A,in combination with theadjustable stop F, the adjustable trimmer and grasping-jaws piw oted toeach other and loosely pivoted to the bed-plate to give an oscillatingas well as a swinging movement adapted to inclose and compress thebunches at two points regardless of their taper, substantially as setforth.

3. In an asparagusbuucher, the bed'plate A, in combination with theadjustable support G, having curved extension G, the bow-shaped lever H,and bevel-edged cutting-blade attached to said lever and acting inconjunction with said curved'extension to form an asparagus-trimmer, asset forth.

4. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination, with theadjustable support G, having curved extension G, of the curved support18, attached to said extension, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

5. In atrimmer for asparagus-bunching machines, the support G, incombination with the trimmingknife and guard 16, arranged,as shown anddescribed, to protect the operator from injury by said knife, as setforth.

6. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the recessed swinging jaws B, incombination with thejaws 0, provided with tongues 19 to enter saidrecesses and prcventthe stalks from dropping between the jaws at theirbases, as set forth.

WM. WURDEMANN.

\Vitnesses: I

CHAS. VVALTER, E. STEPHAN.

